Schwarzer helps Boro win a trophy

Socceroo goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer rebounded from a nightmare blunder to help Middlesbrough claim the first trophy in its 128-year history with a 2-1 win over Bolton in the English League Cup final yesterday.

Middlesbrough raced to a 2-0 lead in the first seven minutes, but Schwarzer handed Bolton a ticket back into the match when he misjudged a Kevin Davies shot at his near post and the ball bounced off his left arm and into the net.

But the keeper then pulled off three superb saves to hold Bolton out at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. "Mark made a mistake for their goal but he was magnificent after that," Boro manager Steve McLaren said.

Boro will now compete in next year's UEFA Cup.

In English Premier League action, Australian pair Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell both scored in their reunion at Elland Road as Leeds and Liverpool played out an exciting 2-2 draw.

On his return to Elland Road after his acrimonious transfer from Leeds to Liverpool in the off-season, Kewell silenced the boos with a sublime goal in the 21st minute.

In Spain, Real Madrid took full advantage of slip-ups by title rivals Valencia and Deportivo Coruna as it stretched its lead at the top of the table to eight points with a 4-2 victory over struggling Celta Vigo.

Earlier, Valencia had gone down 2-1 to struggling Espanyol at a snowy Montjuic, while in Sunday's late match, Deportivo Coruna lost 3-2 to a rejuvenated Barcelona in a thrilling match at the Riazor.

In Italy, midfielder Massimo Ambrosini's goal gave AC Milan a 1-0 win over Lazio that preserved its five-point cushion at the top of Serie A.

In earlier matches, AS Roma came from behind to crush Parma 4-1, while champion Juventus brushed aside Ancona 3-0 to keep up the pressure on Milan.

Cruzeiro's vice-president Zeze Perella claimed that the Brazilian club would be better off without international Rivaldo because he slowed the attack.

Rivaldo quit the club on Saturday in solidarity with coach Vanderley Luxemburgo, who was fired the day before.

Meanwhile, Guatemala international goalkeeper Danny Ortiz has died after colliding with an opponent during a Guatemalan league match.

Ortiz, who was playing for Municipal, crashed into a Comunicaciones opponent, receiving a hard blow to the chest.